UBC Sustainable Cities Commission meeting with the Climate Budget Summit
On behalf of the UBC Sustainable Cities Commission, we are delighted to invite you to our annual Commission meeting, which will take place on 1–3 October 2025 in Malmö, Sweden, under the inspiring theme: Creating Climate-Proof and Nature-Positive Cities Together!
As cities across Europe and the Baltic Sea Region face increasing climate risks, the need for robust and nature-inclusive urban strategies has never been more urgent. This year's meeting aims to catalyse action by providing a unique platform for municipal leaders, experts, planners, and practitioners to collaborate on building cities that are not only resilient to climate change but also rich in biodiversity and nature.
Hosted by the City of Malmö, the event will combine expert insights, practical tools, inspiring city examples, and interactive discussions that address climate mitigation, climate adaptation, biodiversity integration in urban governance, and solutions to PFAS pollution in cities.
"Malmö aspires to be a global role model for sustainable urban development and as cities play a vital role in creating resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments, it is our honor to host this event and provide a welcoming space for dialogue, learning, and inspiration.
We are confident that this gathering will not only deepen our collective understanding but also strengthen the bonds between our cities as we pursue a sustainable, climate-neutral and biodiverse cities together. The solutions we need will not come from one city or one organization alone, but from partnerships, from dialogue, and from a willingness to learn and adapt together."
— Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö
Programme
Our meeting will begin with a Climate Budget Summit, organised in cooperation with the Climate-4-CAST project, where participants will explore how cities can harness climate budgeting to turn ambitious climate plans into achievable realities. Keynote speeches from leading climate experts will set the stage for city case studies and reflections. The day will conclude with interactive study visits around Malmö, showcasing local efforts in biodiversity, climate adaptation, and coastal protection, followed by a welcome dinner offering a relaxed networking opportunity.
The second day will shift the focus toward strategies for creating nature-positive and biodiversity-rich cities. Participants will meet distinguished speakers and peer cities sharing innovative approaches to enhancing urban biodiversity as a climate resilience strategy. The programme includes city showcases from UBC members alongside keynotes from SLA Copenhagen, ICLEI’s Cities Biodiversity Center, and the Urban Biodiversity Parks project. Interactive parallel sessions will provide opportunities to co-develop ideas and explore new project opportunities and partnerships to scale up nature-based solutions and overcome common implementation barriers. The day will conclude with a reception hosted by the City of Malmö.
In addition to the main climate-focused programme, on 3 October we will finish with a half-day workshop diving into the local strategies and solutions against PFAS for cities, organised with support from the EMPEREST project, and a farewell lunch. We are very excited to invite cities interested in this topic, both those who have experience with addressing PFAS, and those that don't have a local strategy yet!
Throughout the event, there will be ample space for networking, discussion, and co-creation.
Why you should attend
- Gain cutting-edge knowledge on climate budgeting and biodiversity planning
- Exchange practical experiences with cities across the Baltic Sea Region on efficient practices in climate change adaptation
- Access innovative tools and methodologies for climate forecasting, urban nature integration, and locating PFAS hotspots
- Participate in study visits and co-creative workshops
- Build valuable connections and collaborations for future projects
"We will co-create innovative ideas, explore project opportunities and build new partnerships that advance the integration of climate and biodiversity for lasting urban resilience. This meeting offers a unique opportunity to learn form leading experts and peers on how to accelerate your climate and biodiversity actions on the ground!"
— Agnieszka Ilola, Head of Secretariat at the UBC Sustainable Cities Commission
Practicalities
Participation in the three-days Commission meeting is free, but participants are expected to arrange own travels and accommodations.
This year, the meeting welcomes not only UBC member cities, but also other cities from the Baltic Sea Region interested in and working with sustainability and climate.
We warmly welcome you to join us in Malmö for this dynamic and future-oriented gathering! Together, we can shape resilient and vibrant cities where both people and nature thrive.